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A Year of Picnics: Recipes for Dining Well in the Great Outdoors
Everyone loves picnicking—dining in the great outdoors, cozied up on blankets, and surrounded by the beauty of the natural world. Now imagine doing it year-round, where the setting speaks to the foods served, and you've got A Year of Picnics !
Savor good food and good company while lounging beneath the shady canopy of trees or under the sparkle of a starry sky. With just a picnic blanket and a little inspiration, you can transform mealtimes into an opportunity to relax, connect, and enjoy the outdoors. A Year of Picnics presents everything you need to picnic through the seasons, with over 70 picnic-perfect recipes, tips on selecting your location, advice for packing your basket, and creative ideas for outdoor activities. Through 20 themed picnics—celebrate the bounty of summer produce with a Table to Farm Picnic or revel in the colors of autumn with a Falling Leaves Picnic—you’ll discover the ways food can be elevated by your surroundings. From mountaintops to meadows, rooftops to formal gardens, let your picnicking take you to new places.
Savor good food and good company while lounging beneath the shady canopy of trees or under the sparkle of a starry sky. With just a picnic blanket and a little inspiration, you can transform mealtimes into an opportunity to relax, connect, and enjoy the outdoors. A Year of Picnics presents everything you need to picnic through the seasons, with over 70 picnic-perfect recipes, tips on selecting your location, advice for packing your basket, and creative ideas for outdoor activities. Through 20 themed picnics—celebrate the bounty of summer produce with a Table to Farm Picnic or revel in the colors of autumn with a Falling Leaves Picnic—you’ll discover the ways food can be elevated by your surroundings. From mountaintops to meadows, rooftops to formal gardens, let your picnicking take you to new places.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published April 5, 2016
4 people are currently reading
134 people want to read
About the author
Ashley English
19 books23 followersAshley English is the author of the "Homemade Living" book series (Lark Books) which showcases topics related to small-scale homesteading and some of the diverse ways people are reconnecting with their food and food communities and taking up sustainable food practices.
--from the author's blog
--from the author's blog
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
March 23, 2021
Full Review on The Candid Cover
If you are looking for a recipe book that is a little bit different from your typical book of tips and recipes, A Year of Picnics by Ashley English is sure to provide you with some inspiration. Not only are there themed picnics based on the four seasons, there are activities and ideas that revolve around the theme of each picnic. This book is full of fun ways to take your standard picnic and transform it into an event with its beautiful photographs and interesting approach.
As you can imagine, the most opportune time to venture out on a picnic is during the warmer months and when the weather is just right. The themed picnics included in this collection range from a coffee break picnic to a full on high altitude picnic. I am really looking forward to trying some of these ideas once it becomes a little bit warmer outside. I have already got the bird-watching picnic penciled in my daytimer, as the Carbonara Nests and Bird Seed Cookie recipes look divine and I just love the fact that they fit the whole idea of being outside with the birds.
bubbles
Each of the picnics contains a collection of activities to go along with the menu and the venue. Some picnics have things that the whole family can do and others are as simple as stretching on your coffee break. There is something that will interest anyone.
Since we are just barely past winter here in Southern Ontario, I was only able to give the Winter Picnic a try. My family really enjoyed our wintry walk and we had a blast blowing bubbles and spraying the snow with food colouring to make interesting designs in the snow. The S’mores Brownies were an instant hit, as they are chocolate brownies baked on a graham cracker crust and topped with lots of gooey marshmallows.
For anyone who enjoys spending time outdoors and loves to picnic, this is a must-have in your collection. While it is fun to go picnicking, it is even more fun when you add some interesting foods and different ideas to kick it up a notch. I am definitely inspired to get out and picnic more often this year.
If you are looking for a recipe book that is a little bit different from your typical book of tips and recipes, A Year of Picnics by Ashley English is sure to provide you with some inspiration. Not only are there themed picnics based on the four seasons, there are activities and ideas that revolve around the theme of each picnic. This book is full of fun ways to take your standard picnic and transform it into an event with its beautiful photographs and interesting approach.
As you can imagine, the most opportune time to venture out on a picnic is during the warmer months and when the weather is just right. The themed picnics included in this collection range from a coffee break picnic to a full on high altitude picnic. I am really looking forward to trying some of these ideas once it becomes a little bit warmer outside. I have already got the bird-watching picnic penciled in my daytimer, as the Carbonara Nests and Bird Seed Cookie recipes look divine and I just love the fact that they fit the whole idea of being outside with the birds.
bubbles
Each of the picnics contains a collection of activities to go along with the menu and the venue. Some picnics have things that the whole family can do and others are as simple as stretching on your coffee break. There is something that will interest anyone.
Since we are just barely past winter here in Southern Ontario, I was only able to give the Winter Picnic a try. My family really enjoyed our wintry walk and we had a blast blowing bubbles and spraying the snow with food colouring to make interesting designs in the snow. The S’mores Brownies were an instant hit, as they are chocolate brownies baked on a graham cracker crust and topped with lots of gooey marshmallows.
For anyone who enjoys spending time outdoors and loves to picnic, this is a must-have in your collection. While it is fun to go picnicking, it is even more fun when you add some interesting foods and different ideas to kick it up a notch. I am definitely inspired to get out and picnic more often this year.
March 4, 2017
This book is wonderful!!! It has beautiful photographs and recipes that I can't wait to try! I think this book is a perfect coffee table book ... it is beautiful, but practical and useful!!
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July 15, 2021I liked a few of the picnic concepts (afternoon tea picnic and high altitude picnic), but overall a bit too twee for me. Probably best for families with kids - I don't think my husband would go for most of the activity ideas.
I saved a few recipes. Some seemed pretty complex for a picnic. Be prepared for a lot of prep work in advance. A lot had meat, some were pescetarian and vegetarian.
More perhaps a book for inspiration.
I saved a few recipes. Some seemed pretty complex for a picnic. Be prepared for a lot of prep work in advance. A lot had meat, some were pescetarian and vegetarian.
More perhaps a book for inspiration.
June 12, 2024
When I first saw this whimsical book of picnics, I thought it would be nice to look at but could never imagine attempting anything. After reading just a few pages, then a few more, I realized that these themed picnics are actually doable. I'm certainly making the portable picnic table ASAP and taking it with our family everywhere. I'm definitely going to be indulging in the recipes such as Carbonara Nests, Zucchini Gratin, Peach and Lemon Clafoutis, Roasted Figs with "Little Worlds," and Israeli Couscous Feta and Herb Salad...it might be easier to list items I'm not going to be making (pickled eggs). Every theme has recipes, crafts/items to make, and suggested activities. My favorite activities are watercolor birds and playing games from around the world. And tree climbing to be honest. The themes of the picnics are splendid. Bird-watching, sacred tree, ephemerals, falling leaves, around the world, and twilight are among my favorites. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for some fun and creative ideas to spend more time with the people they love.
August 9, 2021
Be prepared, this is not your typical recipe book - more like a complex take on picnics all year around, with themes, activities (most of them useful for parents with young children) and a few recipes for every theme (both for main dishes and drinks/desserts).
I find this cookbook being very creative, especially if you are a get-go type of person who loves cooking, is not afraid of lot of preparation works (some recipes need a preparation phase, as the cooking takes its time and/or some dishes need to be prepared in advance) and also of bringing much heavy-ish stuff with them. I am more a bread and cheese type with some thermos :), so I will cook some of the recipes at home instead! :) But otherwise, very passionate and creative picnic recipe book!
I find this cookbook being very creative, especially if you are a get-go type of person who loves cooking, is not afraid of lot of preparation works (some recipes need a preparation phase, as the cooking takes its time and/or some dishes need to be prepared in advance) and also of bringing much heavy-ish stuff with them. I am more a bread and cheese type with some thermos :), so I will cook some of the recipes at home instead! :) But otherwise, very passionate and creative picnic recipe book!
July 20, 2021
A Year of Picnics is a great place to start when gathering ideas for your next picnic. So many ideas for places, styles and of course, yummy food. I was worried that the recipes would be "too fancy", but after reading through many of them, they are fairly easy and contain ingredients that are easy to find. The spiced shortbread cookies, gazpacho and even the karelian hot pot have all been added to my "must try" list. The photos throughout the book paint the perfect aesthetic for each picnic style.
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October 22, 2017
A lot of cute ideas however, I don't see myself dragging a full service of dishes and a "portable table" on a picnic hike. Some of the dishes did not seem suited for outdoor fare, and some looked insanely heavy to lug around. (Beef stew in cast iron, anyone?) Perhaps if one is simply plopping down in their backyard... ;)
December 11, 2017
This was super interesting. It was divided into themes, and got broken down for food, activities, and prep. I don't really do picnics but I thought that this was an awesome idea. If I was planning a picnic or an outdoor outing, I would totally use this book. It is well work the look see. There are lots of good pictures and ideas.
July 19, 2021
This book is great for anyone who wants to make impressive picnics. It has ideas and themes for picnics in all seasons, like games to play. Ashley English includes instructions for building things to help with your picnic. The recipes are great, Cakes, Chicken recipes, smoky Cauliflower Spread, Cheesy Kale Chips etc. Looking forward to trying some for picnics.
September 9, 2017
I'm not totally sold on most of the picnic advice parts ("Romantic picnic: feed each other food": Not happening.) but alot of the recipes look pretty tasty. I think that many of them are a bit ambitious for me and my idea of a picnic, but they look good enough to give them a shot.
December 6, 2022
OK, I'm rushing to return it to the library so I haven't actually cooked anything yet, buuut, I've marked about a dozen recipes to save. Photos are nice, picnics are set out seasonally, with themes and suggestions for activities. A nice library borrow.
August 3, 2017
Fun whimsical book for anyone into planning for a special party/meal.
February 1, 2018
I liked the idea of this book, but the recipes were too fancy for this reader.
Reviewed from a library copy.
Reviewed from a library copy.
April 10, 2019
A great concept and sweet authorial voice. I didn't save too many recipes out of this one, but it was a joy to read.
May 8, 2021
Great recipes.
November 20, 2021
This was a cute book and I'm going to try a lot of the stuff in it - but it was a little over the top.
May 2, 2022
although I am not sure any of these meals made me super excited it definitely challenged my idea of picnics hopefully it makes me think bigger about outdoor dining.
October 23, 2023
A lot of recipes of things I would never make. And then the picnic tips of location or what to bring just seemed more like common sense things and filler text.
September 9, 2017
I really, REALLY want to be the kind of person who takes lots of picnics. I like to be outside and I like to eat so it seems great. But somehow that never seems to happen. Maybe this book will help with that. Not only does it have recipes for picnic foods but each picnic follows a theme. They include tips for choosing the right site and suggestions for activities with each picnic. There is also information about the best ways to carry your picnic and tips for planning a menu that fits your site. For example, they plan a mountain top picnic and mention that if you are hiking to your location, that you want to pack things that are lighter and maybe don't require lots of extra like silverware or cups.
January 7, 2017
A Year of Picnics left me yearning for Spring and Summer! Filled with beautiful photos, delightful recipes and creative picnic themes, each page gives inspiration to get outdoors!
Each picnic featured has a theme, menu, craft and or game and activity. The picnics range from small groups of adults, nature outings for children, and even a relaxing lunch break picnic for one!
I look forward to seeing this title in print and I am excited to recommend A Year of Picnics to cookbook lovers and those that love to entertain.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Each picnic featured has a theme, menu, craft and or game and activity. The picnics range from small groups of adults, nature outings for children, and even a relaxing lunch break picnic for one!
I look forward to seeing this title in print and I am excited to recommend A Year of Picnics to cookbook lovers and those that love to entertain.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 27, 2016
A Year of Picnics is a gem! Not only does it include the amazing photography of Jen Altman, but also the sage advice of Ashley English on everything from activities to DIY crafts and food handling to yummy picnic fare. Recipes are not limited to the edible variety, included are directions for homemade bug spray and and how to make a portable picnic table. Everyone will want to dust off their picnic basket because English leaves no excuses to keep a picnic confined to one season, location or mood. Genius!
Thanks Netgalley for offering a preview of "A Year of Picnics."
Thanks Netgalley for offering a preview of "A Year of Picnics."
January 4, 2017
Everyone loves picnicking—dining in the great outdoors, cozied up on blankets, and surrounded by the beauty of the natural world. Now imagine doing it year-round, where the setting speaks to the foods served, and you've got A Year of Picnics!
~I loved this book! So many great ideas and lots of fun! I can't wait to plan picnics for my husband and I to enjoy and also for the kids! The pictures are amazing and so beautiful! So grab this book, your picnic basket and a blanket and have fun!
~I loved this book! So many great ideas and lots of fun! I can't wait to plan picnics for my husband and I to enjoy and also for the kids! The pictures are amazing and so beautiful! So grab this book, your picnic basket and a blanket and have fun!
August 3, 2017
The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.
March 11, 2017
What a lovely book! Ashley English continues her strong reputation of producing an aesthetically appealing go-to resource. A Year of Picnics is filled with recipes and ideas for picnicking fun!
April 11, 2017
Its been ever so long since I've been on a picnic! This book has so many inspirational ideas, I may just have to plan a few again! Lots of great recipes and the photos just add to the sense of wanting to organize a picnic with friends and family!
July 4, 2017
Reviewed by Ralph Peterson for San Diego Book Review
"A Year of Picnics Recipes for Dining Well in the Great Outdoors" by Ashley English details the difference between a bucket of chicken and a blanket, known as a picnic; and a carefully planned Picnic with a capital “P”. This is not exactly a cookbook but more of an event planning guide containing event ideas for a Romantic, , Bird-Watching, Waterside, Farm, Children’s, Winter, Around the World and other types of Picnic events.
You can read this entire review and others like it at San Diego Book Review.
"A Year of Picnics Recipes for Dining Well in the Great Outdoors" by Ashley English details the difference between a bucket of chicken and a blanket, known as a picnic; and a carefully planned Picnic with a capital “P”. This is not exactly a cookbook but more of an event planning guide containing event ideas for a Romantic, , Bird-Watching, Waterside, Farm, Children’s, Winter, Around the World and other types of Picnic events.
You can read this entire review and others like it at San Diego Book Review.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews